Man charged with endangering his children says he is innocent

London, Ky. (WYMT) - Sheriff's deputies in Laurel County say they found two twelve year old boys, one of them handicapped, in filthy conditions.

Ronnie Overbsay said he hoped the truth will come out and plans on entering a not-guilty plea to charges of endangering the welfare of a minor.

“in our opinion, the children were in an unsafe condition,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies said they were told Overbay was not taking proper care of his two 12-year-old boys.

“The caller said that a man was there using meth and that he had threatened to kill his children and himself,” said Acciardo.

Overbay said that is not true and he was being run off by his neighbors on Valley Lane.

“Someone got mad at me and when they got mad at me they called they had my kids took from me and I am the only person they have,” said Overbay.

Police said they took the complaint seriously.

“When our deputy arrived the man was mentally and physically unable of taking care of the two children,” said Acciardo.“Also the residence was absolutely filthy.”

Overbay said he believed the charges were not warranted.

“It just ain't right,” Overbay said.“It is not right at all.”

The two boys, including one who is handicapped, were taken away by social services when deputies said it was obvious the 40-year-old was under the influence.

The arrest citation stated Overbay admitted to being high on meth, but told WYMT in jail, he was only under the influence of his prescribed pain medication.

“I take my pain medicine that's all I do,” said Overbay.“They wouldn't take a blood test or nothing, they just took me to jail.”

When deputies were questioned about the “blood test” argument presented, they said it was not related to the issue at hand on whether he was a fit guardian.

“That's not even relevant to this case at all,” said Acciardo.“He is either mentally and physically capable of taking care of his children or he is not.”

Overbay said in the three weeks that he lived in the apartment complex he was afraid to let his children play outside and said this incident happened shortly after he received an eviction notice.

He claimed the “filth” was the result of the three trying to quickly move out.

“I had everything in garbage bags, we got evicted so we was getting ready to move because there was trouble in front of us,” said Overbay. “When my kids can't play outside, and jump in the creek and on somebody else's land just for a split second and they come and cuss me out, I can’t live around that.”

Overbay said he has been in trouble with the law before and has always entered a guilty plea, but has not been to prison in nearly 20 years and wants his boys back. He is being held on a $2,500 cash bond at the Laurel County Detention Center. He will be in district court on Wednesday.

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